top of page
Free!
**Never Miss a Blog Post: Subscribe to Icelandic Roots!**
Are you eager to stay informed about all things Icelandic? Look no further than the Icelandic Roots newsletter! Our dedicated team of authors and guest writers brings you insightful and engaging content on various topics related to Icelandic culture, history, travel, famous people, language, genealogy, and upcoming events.
Subscribe Today!
Icelandic Roots Online Book Club is Back - October 5
Join Heather online for the upcoming season of the Icelandic Roots Book Club. The first book this Fall is Burial Rites by Hannah Kent....
Sep 2, 20236 min read
Drawing Mundi
By Gay Strandemo Bryndís Víglundsdóttir is a superb storyteller and my job is to keep up with her as an illustrator. After we...
Sep 1, 20231 min read
Reflections at Brimnes, Emigration Center Stories, Bill Holm’s Legacy, and Icelandic Adventures
By Jack Plumley The following is a story about my adventures returning to Iceland for the Snorri Internship. This is shared in addition...
Sep 1, 20235 min read
Jón Árnason-August's Interesting Icelander
By Becky Byerly-Adams Iceland boasts a rich literary legacy with the Icelandic Sagas being hailed as a global treasure. Additionally,...
Aug 19, 20233 min read
Torment and Triumph in the Nineteen Twenties
The story of Laura Goodman Salverson (IR# I22876736) as performed by Karen Gummo By Beth Finnson This was by far my favorite session at...
Jul 23, 20232 min read
VIGIL LIGHT
In times when we need to keep watch or pray, a vigil light can give us comfort. By Sharron Arksey The ceramic vigil light is five inches...
May 27, 20232 min read
Many IR Teammates Gather in Banff
Twenty-three Icelandic Roots volunteers and five family members are in Banff celebrating the Icelandic National League's Convention...
May 14, 20233 min read
A Gift of Love From Amma
A story about a unique gift from Amma to Doreen that is treasured far beyond its physical presence, but also with heartfelt memories and...
May 13, 20232 min read
The Pendant - A Family Heirloom
A pendant heirloom passed through the generations shrouded in mystery as to its beginnings. A lesson from the author to make inquiries...
Apr 30, 20237 min read
My Family Huldufólk Story
Editors Note: The most iconic creatures from Icelandic and Faroese folklore are probably Huldufólk, or “hidden people.” The term...
Apr 16, 20233 min read
Hildur, Queen of the Elves
Hildur, Queen of the Elves an Icelandic Legend
Apr 2, 20237 min read
A Cherished Object
By Sverrir Sigurdsson As a young child, I loved tales of the Vikings: how they traveled abroad to seek fame and fortune, while those who...
Feb 5, 20232 min read
The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi
The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, February 2, 2023, will feature The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi, with Jason Doctor as our...
Jan 22, 20233 min read
Sharing Conversation About Christmas Traditions
-By Beth Finnson The highlight of Samtal Hour on December 19th was Icelandic Christmas traditions here in North America. That said, the...
Dec 25, 20225 min read
Marja’s Winter Tale
Editor's note: On Christmas Eve, a young farm worker, Marja, was asked by farmer Jon's young son, Steinie, to tell a scary Christmas...
Dec 25, 20227 min read
Turkeys and a Christmas Cat
by Sharron Arksey A husband watched his young wife prepare the turkey. “Why do you always cut it in half before putting it in the...
Dec 11, 20222 min read
Free Writing Class For Icelandic Roots Members
Following the success of this fall‘s three-part webinar series on memoir writing, we are now offering a free six-week class on the...
Nov 26, 20222 min read
What the Yule Boys Have Brought Me
by Gay Strandemo Author Heidi Herman and I once again team up at Samtal Hour to discuss the Icelandic Yule Boys - Jólasveinar. To join us...
Nov 26, 20223 min read
My Icelandic Immigrant Ghost
By Doreen (Borgfjorð) McFarlane IR 602083 October is the month of Hallowe’en, so it is a time that many people think about ghosts and...
Oct 30, 20226 min read
What about Guðríður?
Guðríður who??? A very good day to you! The majority of the people who left Iceland for America did so because the story traveled from...
Oct 30, 20224 min read
bottom of page